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In Reply to part II
There are several paths to making money in photography..some are easy and
don't earn you too much. The earnings are actually so low you might find yourself burned out..Yeah it’s fun at first, but the amount of work you put in to make a few bucks just doesn’t seem worth it anymore. The path that is the most difficult makes you the
most, or at least enough to make it worth your time. This is the one most people either ignore...or are aware of yet refuse to deal with. This IS the business of photography.
ANYONE desiring to make some decent money (not necessarily a living) need to count the cost. The cost of your time, your energy, your personal expenditures in financial and time consumption, the late nights, the seemingly endless time at the computer, talking to clients, drumming up new biz, keeping the old biz, selling, marketing etc..etc... Whew!I personally know many photographers who make a living from photography;
some are excellent shooters technically, and some are mediocre...really poor
photography; yet the ones who make money all have one thing in common..a desire to succeed and
a solid business plan to follow. While I appreciate your comments on my photos, I consider myself far from
excellent technically; yet I continue to strive to be better in that dept.
There are many who shoot nicer pictures than I..more creative pictures than
I, better technically; yet as hard as they try, they can not earn a living
from their pretty pictures. Why? They do not have an inkling of what it
takes to be a wage earning photographer..and guess what that is?..Yep..a
business plan! I'm not talking about a photog who works for a newspaper, or the kid that
says smile as he takes the family portrait at the "$10.99 gets you two
8x10"s place"
I am talking about you and others like you who have the desire to get paid
for their work; yet can not seem to find their place or their way.
"How do I start?" "Who do I talk to?" "Is this camera good enough?" "What
pays the best?" and the list goes on and is endless. These are NOT the questions to start with. OK, more to your question. " I wonder how one gets started in commercial photography and what it takes
to do so." Short answer: Almost NO ONE starts in commercial photography and is
successful. The odds of starting in commercial photography and being successful are
about as good as me going to the NFL and becoming a star running back.
It is a area of photography you work towards and aspire to. Unless of course your relatives own a commercial studio with a client list longer that 5th avenue. You will have to email me again and tell me your specific goals. 1) What do you hope to accomplish?
2) How much TIME are you willing to devote?
3) Will you write a business plan or find someone to help you develop one?
4) How much do you hope to earn?
5) Why do you want to do this?
6) What is the end of all this for you?
7) How long do you want to do this?
Six out of the seven points above are elements of what is known as the
"Executive Summary" in a business plan.
I can tell you the route I took to be where I am today, though I am not sure
that will help in YOUR goals.
My goal was to eventually make my living with photography; and I have been
blessed with very supportive people around me all my life.
Without that support, I never could have made it to where I am.
I can not over emphasize pier group support and family support. Like you I was a pretty good shooter, better than many, worse than many.
I hit a brick wall about 12 years ago shooting weddings. My first problem was that I really didn’t like shooting weddings. My guts told me that I had to have a creative outlet. I felt that I was stagnating. There is only so much creativity in a wedding shoot. Weddings were not it; yet they paid pretty good. So just the thought of giving up 50K a year was quite frightening. Overcoming that fear was phase one for me.
Phase two was defining MY personal plan to make it in photography; and NOT in weddings. I knew almost nothing about writing a business plan; so I found people who DO know how to write one..and I did a ton of reading on my own concerning business concepts. The biz plan took 8 long hard months!
Despite what the worldly view is, hard work, dedication, and a driving
vision still pay off..In ANYTHING!
July 24, 2008
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